Fire protection for automobile storage buildings



Nov. 7, 1933. H. D. JAMES ET A1. 1,934,503

FIRE PROTECTION FOR AUTOMOBILE STORAGE BUILDINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledOct. 6. 1930 IN V E NTO R3 Hen/y Jmes a/la/ Hara/d W if@ g t c 4ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1933` H. D. JAMES ET`AL 1,934,503

FIRE PROTECTION FOR AUTOMOBILE. STORAGE BUILDINGS Filed Oct. 6, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet 2 fig 4 lNVENTORS Henn/ Jmes If/d l I ATTORNEY PatentedNov. 7, 1933 PATENT oFFIcE 1,934,503 FIRE PROTECTION FOR AUTOMOBILEsTORAoE BUrLpINGs e Henry D. James, Edgewood, and Harold E; White,Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to vWestinghouse Electric andManufacturingCompany, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application 'October s, 1930.serial No. 486,690 12 claims. (o1. lsv- 16) Our invention relates tofire protection for automobile storage buildings and it has particularrelation to a control system for an automobile parking device of thecircuitous-elevatorV type which automatically eiects the movement or' areceptacle to a station by the shortest route when a re occurs thereon,and to a control system for effecting movement of a circuitous elevatorby control means on each receptacle thereof.

As a solution to the automobile parking problem incident to congestedmetropolitan areas, automobile storage buildings having elevators of thecircuitous type have long been contemplated and various modifications ofcircuitous elevators, as to mechanical structure, have been suggested,each comprising essentially a plurality of automobile movers, cages, orreceptacles simultaneously movable successively through two adjacentvertical straight paths interconnected at top and bottom to constitutean endless circuitous path. A preferred construction comprises aplurality of receptacles for supporting automobiles pivotally suspendedin succession between a p air of endless flexible members, such aschains, disposed one on each side of the receptacles and suitablysupported at the top and bottom by rotatable sheaves or sprocket wheels.

invention, as herein described, is applied to an automobile-storagedevice of the latter type, although it should be understood that it isapplicable to circuitous elevators of any type. f

The danger of re hazard incident to the commercial operation of anautomobile-storage device of this type, by reason of the presence ofexplosive and inflammable gasolines and oils, is obvious. In ordinaryconstructions, the circuitous elevator is completely enclosed in atowerlike structure which prevents access to automobile receptacleslocated, or stopped, at levels other than that of the loading station atthe ground floor.

Therefore, in order to move va receptacle'in which a re has occurred, toa point in its travel, such as at the loading station at the groundlevel, where ready access thereto may be had for the application ofnre-extinguishing fluids or vapors,

we have provided a control system for themotive means of the circuitouselevator'. Upon the occurrence of a re in any one of the receptacles',Vour control system automatically eiects the actuation of thecircuitous-elevator motive means to move the receptacle, upon whicharirey has occurred,`

of fire-extinguishing sprays upon the arrival-of the burning receptacleat the proper position.-

We havefurther provided, as a part of our control system, control meanson each receptacle by which a person on aereceptacle at some position,other than the loading and unloading station may control the operationof the circuitous elevator. Such a control is decidedly advantageous forpurposes of maintenance andirepair, or when a person is, for any otherreason, carried upon a receptacle away from the loading and unloadingstation, designedly or accidently, in that the person may returnthereceptacle to the loading and unloading station, or otherwise controlthe operation of the circuitous elevator.

Therefore, it is an object of our invention to provide a means,`including a means responsiveto heat or iire upon any of the receptaclesof a circuitous elevator, for automatically effecting the movement ofthe receptacles,Y whereby the receptacle upon which ya re occurs ismoved, by the shortest route, to a predetermined position and stoppedthereat. k k Another object of our invention is to provide an auxiliarymeans for controlling the movementv of the circuitous elevator bycontrol means on ,each receptacle. j

Another object of our invention is to providean alarm means forindicating the occurrence ofa fire on any of the receptacles of acircuitous elevator. .l A further object of our invention is to providemeans for automatically effecting the operation of sprays for projectingfire-extinguishing uids or vapors into a burning receptacle upon itsar.-rival ata predetermined position. v e A still further object of ourinvention is to provide means for interlocking our auxiliary controlsystem with the main control system for vthe normal operation of thevcircuitous elevator, whereby the latter is rendered ineffective wheneverthe former is operated. Y

Other objects of our vinvention will be readily appreciated from thesubsequent description of our invention in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein: Y Y

Figure l is a diagrammatic view partly in front elevation and partly insection, ofY a circuitous elevator showing the application of Yourinvention thereto; f Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View offthe meansfor supporting a receptacle from atrunnion shaft or rod, and the meansassociated therewith for establishing an electrical connection to areceptacle through. the end thereof;v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken on line III- III of Fig 1,showing the relation of the brush members and the associated track,comprising contact strips, when a receptacle is in the lower-mostposition inthe building structure, and.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the control system for our invention foreffecting the resultsherein described.

Our invention is illustrated as applied to a circuitous elevator (seeFig. 1) in which a plurality 1 of automobile receptacles or cages, l to8in-- elusive, are suitably supported forsixnultaneous movement within asupporting or housing structure 21 in a circuitouspathcomprising-twofad- .i jacent straight vertical portions which areinter-gt connected at the top and at the bottom.

tached to, and supported at a lateral distance fromponeof a pair ofendless chains 24 having the shape of aloop kand disposedl onoppositesides of the receptacle. The chains 24 are suitably supportedand movable around upper sheaves or sprocket: wheels 25 and lowersheaves or sprocket wheels-26.

Bracket arms 27 and 28 are provided for supporting the receptacles at alateralv distance from the endless chains 24. One end of the arm 27 ispivotally attached to the endless chain l24 at one portionthereof, andone end of thearm 28 is pivotally attached-to the same endless chain atadistance therefrom, approximately equal to the length of the'arms 27and 28.. The other corresponding ends of the arms 27 and -28 convergeand are suitably fastened to a bearing member 23 g forrotatablysupporting one end of the trunnion shaft 22. Similar bracket-armsupports are attachedto the parallel endless chains at correspondinglevels and at regular intervals for supporting opposite ends-of thetrunnion shaft 22 of each receptacle. f

The bracket arms 27 and 28, supporting the receptacles-at a lateraldistance from the endless Chania-effect a close spacing of successivevreceptaclesduring movement -thereof through the vertical portions oftheir path of travel and also effect an increased speed'of movement ofthe cagesyas they transfer from one vertical'path to the other aroundthe vupper sprocket` wheels 2.5 or the lower sprocket wheels 26, wherebythe necessary clearance is obtained between successive receptacles.

Each of the sprocket wheels 25 and 26 is keyed to a stub shaft 29 whichis suitably retained in bearing members 30 attached tostructural-members 31 constituting parts of the buildingl structure 21.n

The receptacles are moved simultaneously through a circuitous path whichis similar-to, and greater in length than, that of the endless-chains24, by a motorV 32 of any suitable type. The motor 32 drives a gearmechanism 33 comprising a pair Vof sprocket wheels 34,"each` engagingone-of the adjacent straight-verticalportions of the endless chain 24 atcorresponding levels and having a pinion gear 35 keyed to the shaftf36of the motor 32 and meshing with thev gear'wheels 37 which arealsojkeyed to thefsame shafts 38, respectively, as the sprocket wheels34. K y

,Each ofthe receptacles or cagesv is of a boxshape and is suitablyconstructed of structural material constituting a suitable' framework'.Each of the cagesds provided with fire protective and insulatingmaterial'disposedl at the top and by insulating segments and 56.

at the bottom thereof. The ends of each cage are preferably open, andautomobiles are driven directly upon and off the cages when they are intheir lowermost position at a loading and unloading station at thebottom of the building structure 21. Suitable gates or closures may beprovided which may or may not be of fire-protective material. The sidesof the cages or rev.ceptacles are open, since the receptacles are ofsuch a width as to necessitate such construction -to-allowthel doors ofthe automobiles disposed Vthereon to be opened.

-. yA,bralre.39, of a suitable and well known type,

--cornprisi,r1g,a` magnet coil 40 energizable to releaseithebrakeshoe 41from engagement with the brake'drum 42,xkeyed to the shaft 36 of themotor, is provided. Each receptacle is suspended from a trunnionv rod orshaft 22, each end of which is pivotally at- A selector switch43,comprising a part of the controlsystem for normal operation of thecircuitous elevator and for effecting the movement 'ofaselectedreceptacle to a loading station by theshoitest-route, isprovided. The principle of construction and operation of theselector'switch 43 is described in the copendingapplication of F. E.Lewis, Seria-l No. 398,898, nowPatent 1,856,876, assigned toWestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, and an almosty identicalsystem' of control, associated with a selector sw'itchof this type, isdescribed in the copending application of H. D. James and H. E.White,fSerial`No. 458,110, assigned to the Westinghouse lElectric &lManufacturing Company. It should-be understoodthat this selector switchandi-its associated -control system do not constitute parts of ourinvention.

--Briey, the selector 43 comprises a cylindrical drum 43-Y (see Fig. 1)which has three rings 50, 51 and 52,(see Fig. 4) disposed around theoutsideiperiphery thereof, and which is driven in accordancewith themovement of the receptacles by -any suitable means, such as an endlesschain 44 which connectsthe sheaves or sprocket wheels 45 and 46attached, respectively, to the shaft 47 of the drum-.43 and to one ofthe shafts 29.

' The-selector-switch may be mounted in any suitable position, such ason the wall of the supporting structure 21.

The/'rings 50 and 51 "are of any suitable conducting material andpresent an unbroken outer periphery. The ring 52 comprises twosemi-circular-'segments 53 and 54 of 'conducting material, the segment53 being slightly'longer than segment 54, -and the two segments beingseparated The segment 53 is connected to the ring 50 by a conductor 57,and-segment 54 is connected to the ring 51 by a conductor 58. l

AA push-button panelboard is provided which haspush button switches 1 to8 disposed thereon in a suitable manner fori the purpose of calling Lreceptacles V1 to `8 respectively, to the bottommost .positionat theground level by the shortest route:

One contactmember of each of the push-butconnected, respectively, to theenergizing coil of a direction relay 69 and the coil 75 of a directionrelay 74.

The energizatiofn of the relay 69, vby the operation of any of thecallswitches 1" to 8", eiects the actuation ofthe motor 32 for moving thereceptacles through the building structure 21 in a counter-clockwisedirection. The relay 74, when energized by the operation of any of thecall switches 1" to 8", eiects the actuation of the motor 32 to move thereceptacles through the building structure 21 in a clockwise direction.

The direction of movement of a receptacle which is called to the loadingstation by the operation of one of the push-button switches 1" to 8" isautomatically determined by the physical relation of the segments 5.3and 54 on ring 52 and the brush members 1' to 8', which establishes 4theproper control circuit to so energize either relay 69 or relay 74 thatthe receptacle called moves `to the lowermost position in the buildingstructure 21 by the shortest route.

An emergency-stop push-button 64 is provided on the rpanel 60 for thepurpose of stopping the movement of receptacles at any time during theirmovement.

The call switches 1" to 8" may be of any suitable type which remainclosed after a momentary closing thereof `by hand, until the receptacle,which is called thereby, reaches the lowermost positionin itspnath oftravel.

Auxiliary push-button members 1A to 8A are provided for the push-buttonswitches l" to 8", respectively, fonmanually opening each of theswitches once they are closed, whether the receptacle which theoperation thereof has called to the loading station has reached thatposition or not. That is, these auxiliary push-buttons 1A to 8A areprovided for the purpose of cancelling a call prior to the completeresponse to the call set up by the operation of the call switches 1" to8", respectively. f

We have provided a means for detecting extraordinary heat or fire on anyof the receptacles 1 to 8, which comprises a plurality of fusible linkson each receptacle (see Fig. 2). Each of the fusible links comprises astrip of metal which fuses, at a predetermined degree of heat ortemperature caused by fire.

Referring-,t0 Fig. 2, it will be seen that we have provided a switchlever 81, pivotally attached at the joint 82 to a bracket arm 83, and inturn, attached to the top cross member 22 of a receptacle. The lever 81is for the purpose of controlling the actuation of motor 32 for movingthe receptacles.

The upper end of the lever 81 extends into the hollow end of thetrunnion rod 22, the elongated slot 84 in the wall of the trunnion rodpermitting a pivotal movement of the lever 81 about the joint 82. Theupper end of the lever 81 is bifurcated, the prongs 87 of which havingelongated slots 88 therein, extend parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe lever.

A rod or yshaft is slidably mounted in a bearing member 86 which isretained within the hollow end of the trunnion shaft 22 and has a pairof lugs 89 projecting radially outward, at the opposite ends of ahorizontal diameter of the rod 85, to engage the slots 88 in the prongs87 of the lever 81. i

A cylindrical spring 90 is disposed concentrically around the rod 85betweenthe inside end of the bearing member 86 and a collar 91 on therod 85 which engages the prongs 87 of the lever 81. One end of a cable92, comprising the fusivble links 80, previously mentioned, is kattachedto the lower end 0f the lever 81, and the other` end is attached to aportion of the receptacle, such as the opposite end of thegtrunnionshaft 22,

whereby the fusible links 80 are suitably positioned to be acted upon byextraordinary heat or re occurring in the receptacle.

The length of the cable 92 and its point of attachment to the receptacleare such that the lever 8l is normally maintained in a vertical positionagainst the force of the spring 90. The lever 81, although normallymaintained in a vertical position, is manually movable to the right, inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, against the force of thespring 90. The lower end of the lever 81 is also movable to the left, inFig. 2, by the force of the spring 90 when any of the fusible links 80break. When the lower end of the lever 81 is moved to the left arequisite distance, the rod 85 is moved slidably in the bearing 86 tothe right and a brush member 95 on the rod 85 is caused to engage acontact segment 98. When the lower end of the leverV 81 is moved to theright, the rod 85 is slidably moved to the left, and a brush member 96thereon engages a contact segment 99.

The contact segments 98 and 99 constitute parts of a switching means forautomatically determining the direction of rotation of the motor 32 tomove the receptacle on which a re has occurred to the lowermost positionin the structure 21 by the shortest route.

The contact segments 98 and 99 are parts of an endless track 93 that issimilar, in contour, to the path of travel of the endless chains 24 andsupported in parallel and concentric relation thereto. (See Fig. l.) Thetrack is of laminated structure, having conducting strips on the outsidethat are separated by, and attached to, a common insulating strip 100 bymeans of screws 101. One of the conducting strips comprises two segments98 and 98', respectively, the two segments being separated by shortinsulating segments 102 and 103. The segment 102 is disposed at thelowermost point of the track at the bottom of the structure 21, and thesegment 103 is disposed in the portion `of the track near the top of thestructure 2l.

The conducting strip on the other side of the insulating strip 100comprises the two segments 99 and 99', separated by two short insulatingsegments 102' and 103', in the manner described for `segments 102 and103, respectively, and

alined therewith.

The track is suitably supported in such manner as to allow a continuousmovement of the brush members 95 and 96, on the receptacles, therearoundbut free from engagement therewith until moved by the lever 81 intoengagement therewith. The preferred method of supporting the track is byhorizontally disposed struts 105, suitably attached to the bearingmembers 30 on theoutside of the sprocket wheels 25 and 26 and connectedto portions of the track on opposite sides ofthe sprocket wheels.

An insulating cylinder 85' surrounds the portion of the rod 85 betweenthe two brush inembers 95 .and 95 to prevent short-circuiting thesegments 98 and 99 or the segments 98' and 99' by the rod 85.

The engagement of the brush memberl 95 on a. receptacle with the segment98, when caused by movement of the associated operating rod 85,establishes an electrical circuit including the clockwise directionrelay 74,` which effects the energization of the motor 32 to move thatreceptacle, in a clockwise direction, to the lowermost position in thestructure, which is the shortest route to that position. When the brushmember ico 95 runs oi the strip 98 and upon the insulating segment 102,the circuit is interrupted, andthe motor stops, with the receptacle intheloading and unloading position, whereby an automobile may be drivendirectly on or off the receptacle.

When the brush member 95 engages the segment 98' an electrical circuitis set up which causes the motor 32 to move the receptacles in acounter-clockwise direction and, when the brush 95 runs oi the segment98 and upon the insulating segment 102, this circuit is interrupted, andthe motor is stopped, with vthe vcorresponding receptacle in thelowermost position.

An alarm device, such as an ordinary electrically-operated bell 106, isprovided, which rings whenever any of the brush members 95 engage eitherof the segments V98 and 98. The alarm bell serves to attract attentionto the fact that a re has occurred in one of the receptacles.

An arcuate conducting strip 104, extending parallel to the lowermostportion of the track 93 is suitably supported from the structure 21. Thearcuate strip 104 is disposed in the plane of the segments 98 and 98',and the brush member l95 simultaneously engages the lowermost portionsof either of the segments 98v and 98' and the strip 104, as illustratedin Fig. 3.

A plurality of rire-extinguishing spraysf 109 for projecting suitableiiuids or vapors into a receptacle in the lowermost position of the pathof travel thereof are provided in a suitable position and areautomatically actuated when the brush member 95 of any receptacleengages the arcuate strip 104.

The sprays 109 have pipe lines or hose lines 108 leading thereto from asource of supply (not shown) to be controlled by electro-magneticallyoperated valves 107, which are normally closed, and manually operatedvalves 111, which are normally open.

The engagement or any of the brush members 95 with the arcuate strip 104completes an energizing circuit for the magnet coils 110 of the valves107, whereby the valves are opened. The valves 107 are reclosed byopening the normally closed switch 153, preferably of the push-buttontype, which deenergizes the magnet coils 110.

The valves 111 are for the purpose of stopping the operation of thesprays at any time.

The main control system, comprising call switches 1L to 8" inclusive isinterlocked with the auxiliary control system, comprising the lever 81on each receptacle, by means oi contact members b on relays 121 and 157,whereby the former is rendered ineffective whenever the latter isoperated. The relay 121 is actuated to` open its normally closed contactmembers b whenever any of the brush members 95 and 96 engage,respectively, the segments 98 and 99', whereby the efiective operationof the call switches 1 to 8 inclusive having the contact members b orrelay 121 in circuit therewith, is prevented. The relay 157 is actuatedto open its normally Aclosed contact members b whenever any of thebrushmembers 95 an-d 96 engage, respectively, the segments 98 and 99,whereby the effective operation of the call switches l, to 8 inclusiveis'prev'ented.v The operation oi lthe system, as a whole, is bestunderstood by an ,assumed operation. Let itbe assumed that a fire occurson receptacle 6 when positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1. One orseveralof the fusible links80, melting underf'the application of heat oriire thereto, sever and! thus release the lever 81. The spring 99 forcesthe upu' per end of the lever 81 and, therefore, the'rod 85 tothe right(Fig. 2), causing the brush 95 to engage the segment 98 which completesan electrical circuit for actuatingthe alarm bell 106 and effects therotation of the motor 32 in such direction as Yto cause the receptaclesto be moved in a counter-clockwise direction. The circuit extends fromthe ground connection 115, through conductor 116, a source of supply,such as a battery 117,`conductors 118, 119 and 120, relay 121, conductor122', relay Y123, conductor 124, segment 98', `brush 95, and rod 85,back to the ground connection 125. It will be understood that the rod 85is electrically connected to the ground through the bracket arms 27 and28, the chains 24, the sprocket'wheels 25 rand 26, the bearings 30 andthe structural members 31.

Theenergization Vof the relay 128 effects the closing of the normallyopen contact members thereof which completes an energizing circuitthrough 'the alarm bell 106,`causing it to ring. This circuit'extendsfrom supply conductor L1, through conductors 128 and 129, contactmembers of relay 123,`c`onduc`tors` 130 and 131, bell 106, and conductor134, to supply conductor L2.v Thus the alarm bell 106 rings whenever ai'ire occurs, or whenever a predetermined degree of heat, sufficient tofuse the links 80, exists on any ofthe receptacles yso'positioned thatits brush member 95 will engage the segment 98.

The energization of the relay 121 effects the closing of the normallyopen Contact members a and the opening of the normally closed contactmembers b thereof. f

The opening* of the contact members b of the relayV 121 opens thecontrol circuit through the call switches 1" to 8" and prevents theoperation of the A`circuitous elevatorthereby. Therefore, it will beseen that the contact members b constitute an interlock between the maincontrol system for the motor 32 Y comprising `the call switchesl'f to 8"and the auxiliary control for the motor 32, comprising the lever 81 oneach of the receptacles, and prevents operation of the formercontrolwhenever the latter is in use.

The closing of the contact members a of the relay 12.1 closesa circuitfor energizing the coil of the'counter-clockwise direction relay69,which circuit extends from supply conductor L1, through conductor 135,contact members a-of the relay'f121, Vconductor 186, coil 70, conductor137, normally closed contact members e of the clock- Wise diiectionielay74 and conductors 138, 139 and140, to supply'conductor L2.

The energization of the coil 70 closes the normally open contact membersa, b, c, and d and opens the normally closed contact members e of therelay 69.

' The contact members e of the relay 69 are in the energizing circuit ofthe coil 75 ofthe clockwisedirection relay 74, and, therefore, whenopen, prevent the energization thereof. It will thus be seen that thecontact members e constitute an internet coil 40 `for therbrake 39,associated with the motor 32, which circuit extends from supplyconductor L1, through conductor 128, coil 40, conductors 141 and 142,contact members d of relay 69 and conductor 140, to supply conductor L2.

vThe energization of the coil 40 fmoves the brake slice 41 away from thebrakedrum 42, against the torce of a spring (not shown) and permits therotation of the motor 32, which is effected by the electricalconnections established to the three phases X, Y and Z, of the motor32,' by the closing of the normally open contact members a, b and c, ofrelay 69.

The electrical connections to the three phases X, Y and Z of the motor32, for this direction of rotation, extend from the three-phase supplyconductors AC3, AC2 and AC1, respectively,through the conductors 143,144 and 145, contact members c, a, and b, conductors 146, 147 and 148and conductors 149, 150 and 151.

The motor 32 thus rotates and causes the receptacles to be moved in acounter-clockwise direction. The receptacles continue to move until thebrush-member 95 of receptacle 6 engages the arcuate strip 104, whichestablishes an energizing circuit through the magnet coils 110 forcontrolling the electromagnetically operated valves 107. This circuitextends from the ground connection 115, through conductor 116, source ofsupply 117, conductor 118, the coils 110, conductor 152, normally closedswitch 153, conductor 154, arcuate strip 104, brush member 95 and theshaft 85, to the ground connection 125, as previously described.

The energization of the coils 110 opens the pipe line 108 leading toeach of the sprays 109 and causes them to project a lire-extinguishingfluid or vapor upon and into the receptacle 6, which is, at this time,in the line of'projection thereof,

A short further movement of the receptacle 6 causes the brush member 95thereon to run off the segment 98 and upon the insulating segment 102,which effects the interruption of the motor and bell circuits previouslytraced, and stops the motor 32, with the receptacle 6 in the lowermostposition, Where the sprays 109 continue to project therire-extinguishing fluid or 'vapor into the receptacle. When the rire isextinguished, the manually operated valves 111 are closed or the switch153 is opened. In either case, the pipe lines 108 are closed, and theoperation of the sprays 109 is stopped. We have illustrated 'only twosprays 109, but it should be understood that a plurality oi similarsprays may be suitably disposed for more ecient fire-extinguishingoperation.

It should be noted that the moving of the receptacle, uponwhich arflrehas occurred, to the lowermost position, permits the application by thegarage attendants of fire-extinguishing iluids or vapors by means, otherthan the sprays 109,A

which may be conveniently brought or. moved to a burning receptacle inthe lowermost position in its path of travel.

For a further understanding of our control system, let it be assumedthat a re has occurred on the receptacle 4. In this case, the fusiblelinks thereon are severed, the rod is so moved that the brush 95 onreceptacle 4 engages the segment 98 which establishes a circuit forcausing the alarm bell 106 to ring and the motor 32 to rotate in suchdirection as to move the receptacles in a clockwise direction. Thiscircuit extends from the ground connection 115, through conductor 116,source of supply 117, conductors 118, 119 and 156, relay 15.7,conductors 158 and 159, relay 160, conductors 161, segment 98 and brush95, to the ground connection 125 in a manner lsimilar to that previouslytraced. Y

The energization of the relay 160 closes the normally open Contactmembers thereof, which establishes a circuit through alarm bell 1 06,which circuit extends from Vsupply conductor L1, through conductors 128and 162, contact .members of the relay 160, conductors 130 and 131, bell106,

and the motor 32.

and conductor 134, to supply conductor L2. It Will thus be seen that theengagement of the brushes 95 with either of the segments 98 and 98eiectsthe ringing of the 'alarm bell 106.

The energization of the relay 157 closes its normally open contactmembers aand opens its normally closed contact members b. The opening,of contact members b prevents the effective operation of call switches1 to 8 inclusive since it opens the control circuits controlled thereby.The closing of contact members a closes the energizing circuit throughthe coil 75 of the clockwisedirection relay 74. This circuit extendsfrom supply conductor L1, through conductors 135 and 165, contactmembers a of the. relay 157, cond uctor 166, coil 75,conductor 168,normally closed contact members e of the relay 69 and conductors 169 and140, to supply conductor L2. ,l

The energization of the coil 74y causes the normally open contactmembers a, b, c, and d ofthe relay 74 to close and the normally closedcontact members e to open.

As previously mentioned, the opening of contact members e preventsenergization of relay 6'9 so long as relay 74 is actuated to a closedposition.

The closing of the contact members d of the relay 74 effects theenergization of the coil 40 of the brake 39 in the same manneryand'through substantially the same circuit as was, traced for contactmembers d of the relay 69, the contact members d of the relay 74 beingshunted across the contact members d of the relay 69. 1

The contact members a, b and `c of the relay 74, when closed, connectthethree-phase alternating-current supply conductors AC1, AC2 and AC3 tothe terminals of phases Y, Z and X, re-

spectively, of the motor 32. The connection to the terminal of the phaseY extends from the supply conductor AC1, throughconductor 170,v

contact members a of relay 74 and conductors 147 and 151. The connectionto phase Z extends from supply conductor AC2, through conductor 171,contact members-b of the relay t74 and conductors 148 and 150.- Theconnection to` phase X extends from supply conductor AC3,

through conductor 172, contact members c of the relay 74 and conductors146 and 149.

It will thus be seen that the connections ktothe phases Y and Z areinterchanged from that established by the closing of contact members a,b and c ofthe relay 69. Therefore, it will be apparent that the closingof the relay 74 effects the rotation of the motor 32 in a directionopposite to that effected by the closing of the relay 69, and thatthedirection issuch that the receptacles are moved ina clockwisedirection.

When receptacle 4 reaches substantially the lowermost position in itspath of travel, its brush member 95 engages the arcuate strip 104, whichestablishes an energizing-circuit for the coils 110- for opening thevalves 107 Vin the pipe lines 108 leading to the fire-extinguishingsprays 109, in the samemanner as, andthrough a circuit substantiallyidentical with that described previously'for receptacle 6. Y

When receptacle 4 reaches the lowermost position in its path of travel,its brush 95 runs oir the We have further provided a means forcontrolling the movement of the receptacles by a person ceptaclesby themotor 32 is thuseiectedin a beobvious-that, when -receptacle 4 'reaches'sub When jthe'receptacle 4 reaches the bottom-most with;fengage s;thecontactsegment 99. gagement'of brush-96 with the segment 99 comoperatinga control means on any of thereceptacles; 11n this system of control,the leverl'of any of the receptacles is operated by a person on thatreceptacle, by his moving the lower end of the lever 8l to the right, inFig. 2. The upper end ofthe level` is thus moved a sufficient amount' tothe left, against the force of the spring' 90, untilthe brush 96 engagesthe contact segment 99,v comprising 'a part of the track 93, previouslydescribed. j'

kThe engagement of ,the brush 96 with the segment 99,v completes acontrol circuit for energizing the motor 32 to rotate in such directionas to move the receptacles in a clockwise direction; The automaticAstopping of the motor 32 to stop thereceptacle `on which vthe lever 81has been operated; in 4its lowermost position in its path of traveLLiseiectedby` the brush 96 runningoff segment 99 and upon the insulatingsegment 102'. The operation ci this part of our control system is bestunderstood by an assumed operation. 1

Let it be assumed that a person on receptacle 4, positioned asillustrated in Fig. 1, operates the lever 81 so that the brush 96,associated there- The enplates-a circuit forenergizing relay 157',whichcircuit'extendsfromground connection 115, through conductorf-ll;source of supply 117, conductors 118, y'119 and 156,*relay l157,conductor 158, sege of these contact-members have been-previouslyexplained.` Contact lmembersl a, lwhen closed, complete-an energizingcircuit through coil of clockwise-direction Yrelay 74,"which ,circuithas been previously traced. Movement ofthe reclockwiseedirection fThe-arcuate strip 104, being in theplane 0f the contact-strips 98 -and98 and not inthe plane of the-contactstrips-QQ'and 99 (see Fig. 3), itwill stantially its vlowermost position in its path of travel, the brush96'thereon does notl engage the arcuate-*strip 104 and, therefore, thefire-extinguishing sprays 109- are not operated:

position'in its-pathoftravel, the lbrush 96 there'- onrruns'oithesegment 99 and upon the insulating=segment-lOZywhich eiects theinterruption of theenergizing circuit for relay 157, and,4 therefore,`the-imrnediatestopping of lthe receptacle 4 in that positionfas' aresult ofv the immediate l Similarlygthe operation of the lever 81' onre-A ceptacle:6,aspositioned in Fig. 1, effects the engagement ofthe'brush member 96 on thatjcageY with contact'. strip 99.A Thiscompletesfthe energizing: circuitvthrough relay 121, which circuitextends-V fromground y'connection 115, through conductor 116, source ofsupply 117, conductors .1118, 119 and 120, relay 121, conductors'122 andcloses its normally open contact members a, which completethe'energizing circuit for coil 70` of the counter-clockwise directionrelay 69, as previously traced. This-effects a rotation of the motor 32inadirection-to-'cause the'receptacles to move in a counter-clockwisedirection until the brush 96 on the receptacle 6 runs ofi the segment99' and 'upon the insulating segment 102, which effects the stopping ofthe motor 32, in the manner previously described.-

The normal operation of the circuitous elevator is effected by themaincontrol system comprising th'epush-,button switches 1" to 8" locatedon the panel`60.` This parto the control system illustrated in Fig. 4does.'not constitute a part of our invention. However, an assumedoperation for this control system will serve vto complete theunderstanding of our invention. 'Let it be 'assumed that it is desiredto call'receptacle 5 from its position, illustrated inFig. l, tothelowermost position in its path of travel, namely, the position occupiedby receptacle 1 in Fig'. 1. A person depresses the call switch, thusimmediately closing the contact members thereof. The closing of thecontact members completes an energizingcircuit through `coil Y176 oftheswitch 5 which effects the maintenanceV of the 'closed position oftheContact members o-the switch`5. The closing of the contact members ofthe's'witch 5 also completes an energizing circuit through coil 7010ithe counter-clockwise-direction Vr'el'ay 69,1which is the same as theenergizing circuitfor the' coil 176, and which extends from supplyconductor Ll, through conductor 177, emergency stop push-button switch64, conductors 178 and 1,79,- coil 176, contact members of the switch 5,conductorilSO brushmember 5', contact segment 53 of the selector switch43, conductor 57, ring 5G, brush member 61, conductor 181, interlockcontact membersA b of the relay 121, conductors 182 and 136, coil 70,conductor 137, contact members e of the relayv 74 andconductors 138, 139and 140, to supply conductorL2.

The actuation of therelay 69 effects the actuation of the vmotor 32 tomove the receptacles in a counter-clockwise direction. The stopping ofthe-receptacles is effected when the brush member 5' vruns offthecontact segment 53 and upon the insulating segment, which occurs whenreceptacle 5 reaches theV lowermost position in its path of. travel. Theengagement of the brush 5 with the insulating segment 56 interrupts theenergizing circuit through the coil 176 of the switch 54 and coil `7()of the relay 69 previously traced, so that .thecontact members of theswitch 5" open simultaneously withthe. stopping of receptacle 5 in itslowermost position in its path of travel.

The operation ofthe call switch 4", when the receptacle 4 is in theposition illustrated in Fig. 1, effectsthe .movement'of receptacle 4 toits lowermost position in its :path of travel by the shortest route,Which is a clockwise direction. The automatic stopping of receptacle 4,upon its arrival at its lowermost position in its path of travel, iseiected bythe interruption ofthe energizing circuitfor relay 74 bytheengagement ofY the brush 4 with insulating segment 56 of the selectorswitch 43. f Y f Itwill thus be seen that we have provided a controlsystem for automatically eiecting the movement of a receptaclel ofV acircuitous elevator, upon which a iire has occurred, to the lowermostposition in its path of travel `by the shortest` route, immediately uponthe occurrence of the re, and for automatically stopping it arrivalthereat. Y 4It -willl befseen also that We have provided a means forcontrolling the movement of receptacles by control means on eachreceptacle.

rIt will be `seen alsoI that we have provided a upon its means forautomatically actuating nre-extinguishing sprays to project suitablefluids or vapors into a receptacle upon which a fire has occurred, whenthat receptacle reaches the lowermost position in its path of travel.

It will be seen further that We have provided a means for interlockingthe control system comprising operating means on each receptance, whenthe control system for normal operation of the circuitous elevatorwhereby the latter is rendered ineiective when the former is operated orin operation.

We are aware that our invention is capable of various modificationswithout departure from the spirit of our invention. We intend that theiigures and diagrams, which we'have described, be illustrative only, anddo not desire to be limited except by the scope of prior art and theappended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a conveyor, a plurality of load movers movable in a circuitouspath past a station, motive means for moving the load movers in saidpath, and means, including means'responsive to the existence of apredetermined degree of heat or the existence of re in any of said loadmovers, for effecting the actuation ofv said motive means to move a loadmover so conditioned to the said station by the shortest route. y

2. In a conveyor, a plurality of load movers movable in a circuitouspath successively past a station, motive means for moving the load moverin said path, and means, including means responsive to the existence ofa predetermined degree of heat or the existence of rire in any of saidload movers, for effecting the actuation of said motive means to movesaid load movers and stop them When one on which a predetermined degreeof heat or on which a fire exists reaches the said station.

3. In a conveyor, a plurality of load movers movable in a circuitouspath successively past a station, motive means for moving the loadmovers in said path, and means, including means responsive to theexistence of a predetermined degree of heat or the existence oi fire inany of said load movers, for eiiecting the actuation of said motivemeans to move a load mover on which a fire or a predetermined degree ofheat exists to the said station by the shortest route and stop itthereat.

4. In a control system for the motive means for moving the receptaclesof a circuitous elevator, means including means responsive to apredetermined degree of heat on any of the receptacles, for eiTectingthe actuation of the motive means to move a receptacle, on which'apredetermined degree of heat exists, to a predetermined position.

5. In a control system for the motive means for moving the receptaclesof a circuitous elevator, means including means responsive to apredetermined degree of heat on any receptacle, for effecting theactuation of the motive means to move a receptacle on which apredetermined degree of heat exists to a predetermined position and stopit thereat.

6, In a control system for the motive means for moving the receptaclesof a circuitous elevator, means, including means responsive to apredetermined degree of heat on any receptacle,

for effecting the actuation of the motive means to move a receptacle onwhich a predetermined degree of heat exists to a predetermined positionby the shortest route.

7. In a control system for the motive means for moving the receptaclesof a circuitous elevator, means, including means responsive to theexistence of a predetermined degree of heat on any receptacle, foreiecting the actuationl of the motive means to move a receptacle onwhich a predetermined degree of heat exists to a predetermined positionby the shortest route and stop it thereat.

8. In a control system for the motive means for moving the receptaclesof a circuitous elevator, means, including means responsive to theexistence oi a fire on any of the receptacles, for effecting theactuation of the motive means to move the receptacles until thereceptacle on which a fire exists reaches a predetermined position inits path of travel and then stopping the receptacles.

9. In a control system for the motive means for moving the receptaclesof a circuitous elevator, means, including means responsive to theexistence of a liire on any of the receptacles, for

electing the actuation of the motive means to move the receptacle onwhich a re exists to a predetermined position by the shortest route andstop it thereat.

10. In a re protective system for a conveyor comprising a plurality ofload movers simultaneously movable in a circuitous path successivelypast a station, means responsive to the existence of a re on any of theload movers, fire-extinguishing means at said station, and means,cooperable with said fire-responsive means, for actuating saidfire-extinguishing means when a load mover on which a re exists arrivessubstantially at the station.

11. In a conveyor comprising a pluralityof load movers movablesimultaneously in a circuitous path successively past a station, andmotive means for moving the receptacles in said path, control means forsaid motive means for automatically moving a load mover, on which a reexists, to said station by the shortest route and stopping it thereat,comprising a track having conducting segments and insulatingV segmentstherebetween, said track being similar in size and shape to the path oi'movement of said load movexistence of a iire thereon, means on each loadmover actuable thereby to engage one or" the segments of the saidytrack, whereby said motive means is connected to a source of supply andcaused to move the load movers until the trackengaging means engages oneoi' the insulating segments.

l2. In a control system for the motive means for moving thereceptaclesvof a circuitous elevator, control means for said motivemeans for normal operation of said circuitous elevator, and controlmeans for said motive means, on each of the receptacles, for operationin other cases, and means preventing the operation of the former controlmeans upon operation of the latter.

